To the Editor, I’ve been to the Fillmore County cross-country ski trails several times this year, to use my ski pass. I’m pleased to report that most times the trails were groomed by the DNR. However, the snowmobile usage had ruined that effort on the groomer’s part. Please help me in getting the word out that these are not snowmobile trails. Lynn Teska Peterson, Minn. … [Read more...]
Devil’s Advocate… “Fend for yourself” — Rep. Hagedorn
What? A town hall? If you were driving along Highway 16 on the east side of Spring Valley between 10–11 on the morning of Saturday the 25th of January, you’d have passed right by the Honorable U.S. Representative Jim Hagedorn’s taxpayer funded tow hall meeting. You wouldn’t have seen a sign directing you nor welcoming you in. You wouldn’t have found any obvious signs at the … [Read more...]
When is a town hall meeting not a town hall meeting?
By Jane Peck Lanesboro, MN When it is given by our U.S. Rep. Jim Hagedorn, I found this out at his late January Spring Valley “lecture” for Fillmore County. A “town hall” means a public well-known gathering place that has been advertised to the town. A “meeting” is a gathering to exchange and discuss ideas. None of those things happened. I had hopes of sharing … [Read more...]
Sweden: Socialist utopia?
Whenever rational people try to point out the failures of Socialism, people on the left always cry foul, pointing out the success stories of the Scandinavian countries, Sweden in particular. Sweden, they say, is a spectacularly successful socialist country, with universal health care, generous pensions, and good schools. We in America, they say, should adopt the socialist … [Read more...]
Agricultura a través del mundo
By Maddie Smith Minnesota State FFA Treasurer Leaving home on New Year’s Day, there was no knowing what the next three weeks had in store for me. Beginning in New York City, 75 FFA members prepared for a trip, the International Leadership Seminar for State Officers, to Spain and Portugal to obtain a global perspective of agriculture. Officers came from across the country: … [Read more...]
The Plant Lady
By Jessi Jablonski A need for seeds As beautiful as winter can be, it starts to feel like the season is dragging on this time of year. A great way to combat cabin fever is to get a little dirt on your hands! Starting seeds can be a fun way to create new life for the garden, even when there is still snow on the ground. First things first: What plant goes … [Read more...]
Journal Writing Project: The meaning of flowers
By Zara Wilkemeyer There are times when a person is unable to say what they are thinking and many people call this “cat got your tongue.” However, there is a way to say what you want to say without having the cat get your tongue, forget what you want to say, or stumble over your words, and this way is called the language of flowers. Each flower has its own meaning and what … [Read more...]
Will deploying low-grade nuclear weapons make nuclear war more likely?
By Robert Johnson Harmony, Minn. The 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) passed in December by a vote of 477 to 36 allows deployment of the “low yield” W 76-2 (5-7 kilotons) tactical nuclear warhead. They will be added to the Trident II D5 ballistic missiles carried by the Kitsap-Bangor Trident submarines on Hood Canal in Puget Sound about 20 miles northwest of … [Read more...]
In celebration of Valentines Day!
My granddaughter was playing on the floor in front of me as I watched her from my armchair. She may have been about five at the time. Suddenly she stopped what she was doing and her expression became serious. She looked up and said “I care about you!” I don’t know what prompted her words but it was especially remarkable as we were separated by many miles and seldom were … [Read more...]
Journal Writing Project: Reflection of ourselves
By Leah Himlie If someone walked down every street of Minneapolis and counted the number of people of color, how many would that person see? If a survey of the entire state of Minnesota was conducted, how many people would check a box declaring their sexual orientation something other than straight? In the United States, how many would state their religion to be something … [Read more...]